Tech Crampon on Hoji — Fits Like the Hendrix Headband

In response to Aaron, I tried the tech crampons. Cool idea and there was nothing wrong with the product, but they didn’t work for me.

I do a lot of French technique when climbing snow slopes, saves my calves. I typically only do sustained front pointing if it’s soft enough to get a decent step or no other option (steep and firm).

I didn’t like how they French-stepped so I sold them. Petzl Leopard isn’t much heavier or bulkier and works better for me. Leopards have gotten me up anything I can ski down.

YMMV of course.

I talked about this a bit in my original review. I still have normal crampons, and use them occasionally, but I also often use the techpons. The main instance where I don’t use them is when I’m planning on using crampons for a significant vertical e.g. on a Rainier climb, where you’ll likely spend more than 5,000 feet cramponing. Most of the time, however, the cramponing part of the day is reasonably short (a few thousand feet at most), so they work great.

I’m not sure I would have the techpons as my only crampon, but I’d imagine that many people buying “shark nose” boots have a pair of strap on crampons too that they could use on the few occasions where a techpon won’t work.

Snow crampons typically have relatively short spikes. These are highly specialized long front spikes meaning that any unexpected event forcing you to rapidly traverse, run, down climb, etc. puts you potentially at great risk.

For only a few grams more, you can have a complete crampon with predictable footing for all situations.

And the compaction and balling up of huge heavy wet snow clumps underfoot is incredibly annoying and requires tons of effort constantly clearing that snow with almost every step. So again it seems more than worth carrying a few more grams still to have anti bot plates installed.

I finally got my hands on these at Martin’s shop in North Bend. On paper they’re clever. In the hand I was surprised by the weight. They’re burly and not that light for what they offer. I have to agree with others that the Petzl Irvis is nearly the same weight (or lighter) and offers more versatility for climbing, Frenching and descending. I think a titanium option might make them more attractive for pure couloir hunting in the spring where a sketchy top out would be more relaxed with the increased security front points provide. I think all of us have found ourselves suddenly on firm snow sprinting to the top with nary more than a few millimeters of boot toe penetration. Sketchy, for sure. I generally make it a habit to have spikes on most times I’m booting for just such an occasion. All that said, I love the innovative spirit.